Table 4 Anthropometry, body composition and cardiovascular results

Bangladesh MINIMat

Khan et al. [42]

Anthro^a

Calculated difference: 0 (–0.114 to 0.114)

Calculated difference: –0.01 (–0.13 to 0.11)

4.8 % (0.8–8.9) more stunting across all measurements

Calculated difference: Wt-for-ht z score, 0.01 (–0.09 to 0.11)

Khan et al. [45]

Body comp^a

Lean mass, 0.000 kg (–0.123 to 0.125 kg); fat mass, 0.001 kg (–0.058 to 0.061 kg); no difference in biceps, triceps, subscap or suprailiac skinfold thicknesses

Calculated difference: head, 0.02 cm (–0.20 to 0.24)

MUAC, 0.11 cm (–0.04 to 0.26 cm)

Hawkesworth et al. [46]

Compared to 30 mg iron control adjusted for iron intervention dummy and food intervention variables: Systolic, 0.05 (–0.71 to 0.81); Diastolic, 0.55 (–0.10 to 1.20)

No difference in kidney volumes compared to 30 mg iron

Burkina Faso

Roberfroid et al. [35]

0.13 (–0.01 to 0.27)^b

Hazard ratio in 1st year of life 0.84 (0.70, 1.02) ^c

–0.02 (–0.18 to 0.14)^b Length for age was significantly higher in the first year, but this disappeared by 30 months

Hazard ratio in 1st year of life, 0.73 (0.60–0.87)^c

0.20 (0.06–0.34)^b Wt-for-ht was lower initially but higher in MMN from ≥ 10 months

Hazard ratio in 1st year of life, 1.10 (0.90–1.35)^c

MUAC for age z, 0.18 (–2.93 to 3.29)^b

China

Wang et al. [41]

Pooled (1–30 months) adjusted difference: 0.03 (–0.05 to 0.10)^d

Pooled (1-30 months) adjusted. OR 0.95 (0.71, 1.29) ^d

Pooled (1–30 months) adjusted difference, 0.02 (–0.07 to 0.10)^d

Pooled (1–30 months) adjusted; OR, 0.82 (0.63–1.07)^d

Pooled wt-for-length (1–30 months) adjusted difference, 0.03 (–0.05 to 0.11)^d

Pooled wt-for-length (1–30 months) adjusted; OR, 0.89 (0.58–1.36)^d

Mexico

Ramakrishnan et al. [38]

Calculated difference: –0.1 (–0.34 to 0.14)

Calculated difference: 0.2 (–0.08 to 0.48)

Calculated difference: Wt-for-ht –0.2 (–0.42 to 0.02)

Calculated difference: head, 0.2 cm (–0.42 to 0.82)

Nepal Janakpur

Vaidya et al. [43]

0.14 (0.00–0.27)

37.8 % in control, 36.6 % in MMN

0.08 (–0.06 to 0.22)

60 % in control, 56.7 % in MMN

Wt-for-ht 0.12 (–0.02 to 0.26)

5.5 % in control, 6.3 % in MMN

Triceps, 0.20 mm (0.00–0.40 mm)

Head, 0.24 cm (0.06–0.43 cm); MUAC, 0.24 cm (0.11–0.37 cm)

Systolic, –2.5 mmHg (0.47–4.55 mmHg); Diastolic, –1.5 mmHg (–3.1 to 0.4 mmHg)

Devakumar et al. [39]

0.05 (–0.09 to 0.19)

Not recorded by trial group

0.02 (–0.10 to 0.15)

Not recorded by trial group

BMI for age 0.04 (–0.09 to 0.18)

Not recorded by trial group

Lean mass, –0.05 kg (–0.43 to 0.34 kg); fat mass, –0.07 kg (–0.32 to 0.18 kg); no difference in biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses

Head, 0.18 cm (–0.02 to 0.38); MUAC, 0.04 (–0.15 to 0.23 cm)

Systolic, 0.02 mmHg (–1.02 to 1.05 mmHg); Diastolic, 0.13 mmHg (–0.93 to 1.19 mmHg)

No difference in kidney dimensions; exclusion of children with chronic or major illness made no difference

Nepal Sarlahi

Stewart et al. [44]

Calculated difference: –0.04 (95 % CI, –0.15 to 0.07)^e

Calculated difference: 0.3 % (95 % CI, –5.4 to 6.0)^e

Calculated difference: –0.02 (–0.13 to 0.09)^e

Calculated difference: 3.7 % (–2.0–9.4)^e

BMI for age calculated difference: –0.04 (–0.14 to 0.06)^e

Triceps: FeFol + vit A, 5.84 mm; MMN, 5.9 mm; Subscap: MMN, 4.81 mm; FeFol + vit A 4.75 mm

MUAC: FeFol + vit A, 15.4 cm; MMN, 15.4 cm

Stewart et al. [47]

Waist: FeFol + vita A, 51.27 cm; MMN, 51.22 cm

Systolic: FeFol + vit A, 95.2 mmHg; MMN, 95.5 mmHg; calculated difference, 0.29 mmHg (95 % CI, –0.65 to 1.23)^d

Diastolic: FeFol + vit A, 63.9 mmHg; MMN, 64.4 mmHg; calculated difference, 0.56 mmHg (95 % CI, –0.38 to 1.50)^d

Non-fasting glucose: FeFol + vit A, 3.91 mmol/L; MMN, 3.86 mmol/L; LDL: FeFol + vit A, 1.89 mmol/L; MMN, 1.84 mmol/L; HDL: FeFol + vit A, 0.72 mmol/L; MMN, 0.70 mmol/L; at risk for metabolic syndrome: FeFol + vit A, 12.2 %; MMN, 11.9 %